Business CEOs Gather for International Corporate Philanthropy Day

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) February 28, 2011 - Today, leading companies and organizations around the world recognize International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD), an international advocacy day, now in its 8th year, which mobilizes the business community to share best practices, develop partnerships, and engage with employees and other stakeholders for more strategic and effective societal investments. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) – the only international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons with a mission to raise the level and quality of corporate philanthropy – is proud to lead the global initiative by hosting a series of executive-level events, highlighted by the sixth annual Board of Boards CEO Conference at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York City, attended by over 70 leading global CEOs, including more than 20 from Global 500 or Fortune 500 companies.

United States President Barack Obama has sent a letter of support to business leaders in recognition of ICPD. He writes, “By offering their skills, time, financial support, and creativity to causes greater than themselves, generous corporate philanthropists strengthen our communities and enrich our lives.”

Each year on ICPD, companies mark the occasion with special programs, announcements, and employee events at their offices and in their communities. “We are encouraged to see so many member companies spearheading strategic corporate giving initiatives and partnerships again this year,” explains Charles H. Moore, executive director of CECP. “Furthermore, the 2011 Board of Boards CEO Conference has record attendance, including delegations of CEOs from China and the Arabian Gulf. Together, these business leaders will explore how companies can implement strategies that positively impact their companies’ bottom line while simultaneously addressing a societal need.”

The conference, which has been ranked for the fifth consecutive year among the world's top ten executive events by global public relations firm Weber Shandwick, will convene over 70 leading global CEOs to discuss the theme “Business at its Best: Maximizing Long-Term Profitability and Societal Impact,” focusing on overcoming the challenges corporations face as they reorient their businesses to engage in helping solve societal issues. William D. Green, chairman of Accenture, and Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, will lead the discussion, moderated by Charlie Rose, acclaimed interviewer and broadcast journalist, and executive editor and anchor of The Charlie Rose Show. Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., will address attendees at an executive luncheon.

CEO attendees at the Board of Boards CEO Conference will engage in a series of real-time polling questions probing the conference’s theme; results will be released in an Executive Report following the convening and will be included in a forthcoming May 2011 joint research report by CECP and Accenture.

In the afternoon, CECP will join the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Office for Partnerships, and other UN agencies to host a special program, “Partnering with the philanthropic community to promote education for all,” focused on opportunities for philanthropy to help advance Millennium Development Goal 2, achieving universal primary education. In particular, two priority areas will be addressed: first, enabling children to have access to a full course of primary schooling; and second, promoting education and training for tomorrow's economy.  Confirmed CEO panelists include Mr. S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO and managing director of Infosys Technologies.

In recognition of the day, leading corporate contributions executives from companies including Accenture, Alcoa Inc., Bank of America Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, Deloitte Services LP, Duke Energy Corporation, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., PepsiCo, Verizon Communications Inc., and The Western Union Company will ring The Opening Bell℠ at the New York Stock Exchange with CECP. In addition, on Monday evening, the Empire State Building in New York and the clock tower of the Wrigley Building in Chicago will be lit in the colors of ICPD, blue and green, to mark the occasion.

For more information, visit: CorporatePhilanthropy.org/ICPD

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